If you have and idea/product that is difficult to develop, but easy to make and has a market demand representing multi-million dollars in profit, then patent it. You will have the money to protect it, or you will find people who have the money who will finance protecting it in return for a share.
If it is a small market forget patents, put your money into getting the product into the market. You will get competition but provided you keep up quality and service it is not likely you will be totally pushed out.
An open mind is a virtue...so long as all the common sense has not leaked out.